Monday, 11 September 2017

Scores of youths were allegedly injured yesterday, as gunmen suspected to be soldiers, who came in Hilux Pick-up vans, allegedly attacked the Umuahia country home of leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The IPOB claimed last night, that five people were killed and about 30 others were injured in the attack. However, videos of the clash showing clubs and stone-wielding youths, who clashed with the troop, indicated that scores were injured.

One of the youths, who was shot on his right thigh was seen battling for life as his colleagues administered first aid.

IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, told Vanguard that the attackers wore army and police uniforms and drove into the palace of the traditional ruler of Afaraukwu, who is the father of Nnamdi Kanu and started shooting people.

He said in a statement: “We did not clash with anybody or group. The attackers wore Nigerian soldiers and Nigeria Police uniforms and came to kill our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in his compound at Afaraukwu, Umuahia and started shooting sporadically and killed five people and up to 30 other people had bullet wounds. After attacking our people, they drove off. They came in five Hilux vans.”

Meanwhile one of the allegedly wounded IPOB members was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where doctors were battling to save his live. A doctor on duty at the emergency unit of the hospital said the IPOB member sustained gunshot injury at “the thigh region.”

However, a statement signed by Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 14 Brigade Nigerian Army said:

“The attention of 14 Brigade Nigerian Army, has been drawn to fictitious news going round especially on the social media that troops have invaded the home of Nnamdi Kanu and killed three persons.

“This is far from the truth. “Rather, it was a group of suspected IPOB militants that blocked the road against troops of 145 Battalion while on show of force along FMC-Word Bank Road in Umuahia town, Abia State at about 6.00-6.30pm, today.

“They insisted that the military vehicles would not pass and started pelting the soldiers with stones and broken bottles.’’

He explained that in the process, the IPOB militants injured an “innocent Lady civilian passer-by and a soldier, Corporal Kawole Bello’’.

Both the soldier and the innocent female passer-by have been evacuated to the unit’s Medical Inspection Room and are receiving treatment, he said. “The troops fired warning shots in the air and the hoodlums dispersed. No life was lost.’’

The military called on the public to disregard the rumours and the fictitious photographs of purported victims of attack.

“We would like to use this opportunity to warn mischief makers threatening the peace and security of the country through falsehood.

“Members of the public are please requested to go about their lawful business and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or security outfit.

“You are please requested to disseminate this information to the public through your medium.’’

Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, is reported as saying that “soldiers allegedly from the Nigeria army’’ laid a siege on the country home of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu in Umuahia.

According to a statement he issued on Sunday, he said the military on Sunday, September 10, shot sporadically into the air through which three people have been reported dead and over 20 injured.

Ejiofor said that those who were wounded during the incident are currently in a nearby hospital in Umuahia.